[23 Aug 2006]

A £2,000 reward is being offered for the killers of two golden eagles in Scotland.

RSPB Scotland said it is offering the reward in a bid to track down the people responsible for killing the two golden eagles, a protected species, in May and June.

This is the first time the RSPB has offered a reward in relation to the illegal death of an animal, but the organisation hopes it will highlight the seriousness of the birds' deaths , believed to be the result of poisoning.

Stuart Housden, director of RSPB Scotland, said: "Golden eagles are magnificent icons of the Scottish uplands and we should be proud that Scotland supports some 442 pairs of these awe-inspiring birds that attract tourists from all over the world.

"Yet some in our country selfishly persecute these birds, through the use of poisoned baits or other means. In the space of just three months, two dead eagles have been found - killed illegally."

An investigation by the Northern Constabulary and Grampian police is now being conducted into the death of the birds, which took place at the Dinnet and Kinnord Estate in May and the Glenfeshire Estate in the Cairngorms in June.